Illustration not included in supplement volume
This is the Mexican representative of S. pampa of Guatemala, and differs from that species in having the head of a pale metallic blue.
The following account of the species is given by Mr. Rafael Montes De Oca (l. c.):—
The people of Coalepec, nine miles from Jalapa, give to this species of Humming-bird the name Chupamirto fandanguero, or Fandango Myrtle-sucker, for the reason, apparently, that it has a somewhat musical voice. It is the only Humming-bird which, to my knowledge, has any notes which are sufficient to recognize it by in the woods, and these, though rather monotonous, are quite pleasing. In the neighbourhood of Jalapa this species is found occasionally, but in the above-mentioned place is more abundant, although very difficult to obtain. It inhabits the forest in the winter season, and generally feeds on the flowers of high bushes called Asasaretos, which at that season are in full bloom and densely covered with beautiful smooth emeraldgreen leaves, amongst which it is very difficult to see this bird, though it often betrays itself by its musical notes, especially in the morning. The males only, I think, sing, or at least much more than the females.
Very few specimens of this kind are seen in summer time in this neighbourhood. It is found also near Cordova, and goes as far south as Guatemala, where perhaps it builds its nest, for I have never seen or heard of a nest being found here.
The general appearance of this species is as follows:—The upper part of the head is beautiful metallic ultramarine colour. Wing-coverts and tail-coverts and upper part of the body bronze-green. Throat, under wing-coverts, breast, and belly iron-grey colour, and the under tail-coverts the same, but tinged with chestnut. Quills purplish black with the vanes black and resembling whalebone, the three principal ones rather wider than common. ‘Tail-feathers yellowish bronze-green, all except the two central with the half towards the point bluish black, three on each side tipped with chestnut iron-grey. The feet are dark irongrey, nails and upper mandible black, under mandible iron-grey. Its size from the point of the bill to the top of the tail is from 5\(\frac{1}{2}\) to 5\(\frac{3}{4}\) inches, wing 2\(\frac{3}{4}\), tail 2, bill 1\(\frac{1}{8}\) inches. The female is almost precisely like the male, with the difference of about $ of an inch in size, and either less blue or with it less brilliant on the top of the head.
[R. B. S.]
Featuring all 422 illustrated species from John Gould’s A Monograph of the Trochilidæ, or Family of Humming-Birds arranged by color.
Humming-Birds
